Elbow Park: Riverfront Luxury Real Estate in Calgary
With elegant estates and breathtaking views of the Elbow River, this neighbourhood has a well-earned reputation for having some of the finest luxury homes for sale in Calgary. Elbow Park, located just south of the downtown core, is one of Calgary’s oldest communities as well as one of the wealthiest. Many of the luxury homes in Elbow Park are heritage properties that have been renovated to modern standards, but there are also plenty of mansions and villas featuring the best of contemporary design. Though varied in architectural style, Carriage Trade luxury listings in Elbow Park are distinguished properties with lots of character priced at over $1.8 million.
The Neighbourhood
Elbow Park is a 10 to 15-minute drive south from downtown Calgary and is situated in the city’s southwestern quadrant. The neighbourhood’s jagged boundaries are defined by the twists and turns of the Elbow River and the area’s winding residential streets. Elbow Park stretches from 14th Street SW in the west to the Elbow River in the east, from Lansdowne Ave SW in the south to Council Way SW and Earl Grey Park in the north. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the local indigenous groups used words for elbow to name this region of Calgary because of the river’s distinctive bend which looks like a human elbow. While Calgary has gone by many names throughout history, the name for the Elbow River, and by extension Elbow Park, has stuck.
Elbow Park has over 3,000 people and is a popular area to raise children. The neighbourhood has a higher proportion of large families than the rest of Calgary and a greater percentage of school age children. Residents of Elbow Park also tend to have more money than the average Calgarian with a median household income that is more than three times higher than that of the city as a whole.
The Parks
A big part of Elbow Park’s appeal is its scenic beauty. The neighbourhood’s varied terrain and close proximity to the river means that residents have great natural views and cityscapes to admire. There are also several parks in and around the area including River, Sandy Beach, and Stanley which have tennis courts, off-leash areas for dogs, and canoe/raft access to the river.
Hikers and cyclists will be please to know that the city of Calgary operates around 580 kilometres of pathways for residents to explore, including several pathways that run along the river’s edge through Elbow Park. Calgary’s pathway and bikeway network is actually larger than that of any other city in North America!
The Sports and Social Life
Rub shoulders with Calgary’s elite at the exclusive Glencoe Club, arguably the city’s best sports and social club. The club offers a range of activities from curling to rock climbing to bridge in its impressive complex, situated in Elbow Park’s north end. Glencoe’s diverse programming also includes many specialty clubs allowing members to share their interests and develop new connections.
The Repsol Sports Centre is a massive athletic facility a few blocks north east of Elbow Park. The centre has a range of world-class amenities including two 50-metre pools with 8 lanes of swimming each, two indoor tracks, and a fitness centre with an area of over 25,000 square feet. Many elite and amateur athletes train at the centre, including members of Canada’s Olympic team, however memberships are available to anyone who is looking for a good place to workout. The Repsol Sports centre is one of the country’s leading facilities for athletic training, competition, and fitness.
The Shopping
Shoppers in Elbow Park have convenient access to downtown shopping, but there are several great options closer to home such as 17th Avenue and 4th Street. The shops along the upscale 17th Avenue commercial strip are typically independent boutiques, making it the perfect for those who want to find unique items. Plus, with well over 80 bars and restaurants to choose from there is always somewhere new to eat. The 4th Street shopping zone runs between 12th Avenue and Elbow Drive and has over 300 businesses contributing to the unique and vibrant character of the district.
The Schools
Students in Elbow Park have access to some of Alberta’s top ranked schools based on student performance. Both Elbow Park elementary school and Western Canada, the local high school in nearby Mount Royal, were ranked within the top five percent of public schools in the province.
Carriage Trade Homes
For expert advice about luxury real estate in Calgary or buying and selling a Carriage Trade luxury property in Elbow Park, contact a Royal LePage office in the area.
